France faces left-or-right choice for president

Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal face a run-off for France’s presidency, giving voters a clear choice between a conservative who could push his anxious nation towards painful change, and a socialist who would be the country’s first female leader.

After yesterday’s first round election, Royal was the first woman to get so close to the helm. The campaign was marked by suspense, surprise and unusually dynamic candidates who lured voters to the ballot box in near record numbers.